Treatment in gas distribution systems



April 6, 1943.

J. R. SKEEN TREATMENT IN GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Filed June 19, 1959 Patented Apr. 6, 1943 TREATMENT IN GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS John R. Skeen, Philadelphia, Pa., assignorto The United Gas Improvement Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 19, 1939, Serial No. 279,811

Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial Number 236,822, filed October 24, 1938, and pertains generally to the treatment of the interiors of gas mains or other gas enclosures for the purpose of sealing joints or laying dust, or both..

Systems for the distribution of gas include conduits or mains which are usually laid underground, and which comprise sections of pipe joined together by means of welding, by means of packed joints, by means of screw joints, or otherwise.

The welded joint is a more recent develop ment and is used chiefly to join pipe sections of steel or iron, other than cast iron.

Older mains are usually made up of cast iron pipe sections joined by means of bell and spigot or other similar joints. These joints are usually packed with hemp, jute, flax or other celluiosic material which in turn is backed up with lead or cement or other material in a well known manner.

The lead or cement seal is tight and effective in preventing gas leakage when first applied but soon loses this quality due to expansion and contraction of the main with change in temperature or for other reasons. When this happens the effectiveness of the joint in preventing gas leakage depends entirely upon the packing.

Generally speaking, there are two types of cellulosic packing or yarn which have been used in joints of gas mains or other gas enclosures.

At the time of their insertion in the joint, packing materials may be classified as absorbent and non-absorbent in that the capacity of the former to absorb water has not been impaired by special treatment, whereas such capacity of the latter has been purposely removed such as by treatment with tar.

These widely different types of packing may be referred to as untarred and tar-red respectively, and have widely different character istics in service. For instance, the untarred type of packing is capable of absorbing water which in turn swells the packing. This capacity continues until partially or wholly impaired by the accumulation of tar. resin and gum formed from constituents in the gas, the tar, resin and gum coating the packing. When this occurs the capacity of the packing to take up and give off moisture with change in gas humidity is consid erably reduced and the packing takes on the characteristics of the tarred type.

Until recently, when high pressure distribution has come into more general practice, the bell and spigot or other joints packed with the untarred type of packing gave very little trouble since the gas generally contained sufllcient moisture to keep the packing saturated and, therefore, gas-tight.

However, when the gas is compressed to a high pressure for long distance distribution in welded mains before being expanded to low pressure for local distribution, most of the water vapor (and some of the oils) are condensed out. There is then no longer suflicient water vapor in the gas when expanded to the low pressure to keep the fibrous packing in the packed joints in the low pressure mains moist. On the contrary, the gas is so dry that it rapidly draws out any absorbed moisture in the packing at a rate depending somewhat upon the accumulation of tar, resin and gum. However, the packing eventually dries out since the accumulation of tar, resin and gum is rarely capable of sealing moisture in the fibres. It follows that when the packing dries out serious leaks occur.

In other words, as long as the main is used for distributing ordinary manufactured gas, and assuming that the untarred type of packing was originally installed, very little trouble with joint leakage is experienced. However, when theservice is changed over to a manufactured gas of lower moisture content, or over to natural gas which is characterized'by a very low moisture content, or over to mixtures, the packing dries out and shrinks sufllciently to cause the Joint to become leaky.

While the use of the tarred type of packing avoids the absorption of water in the first in stance, and consequent drying and shrinking should the moisture content of the gas be lowered, nevertheless, the tarred type of packing has not been wholly successful. This is thought to be due in part to shrinkage in volume or cracking of the tar due to drying or polymerization, and also in part to the necessity of swelling a packing in a joint to cause the packing to conform more exactly to the contuor of the joint and to reduce voids between the fibres.

Soap is sometimes applied tothe untarred type of packing. Such treatment, however, does not prevent drying and shrinking.

Referring now to the problem of dust, it is to be noted that over a period of years the water condensed from wet gas together with other constituents of the gas such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrocyanic acid, naphthalene, and so forth, have in many instances, caused extensive corrosion of the interior walls of the main. The products of corrosion have accumulated on the walls of the mains and, in many instances, large quantities have become disconnected and have collected along the bottom.

Due to the presence of relatively large quantities of moisture, largely responsible for the corrosion in the first instance, the products of corrosion were maintained in a wet condition and did not tend to form dust in any appreciable quantity.

Therefore, until high pressure distribution came into practice, and while the use of natural gas or natural gas mixtures was less widespread, very little dimculty was experienced with the formation of dust in mains from the products of corrosion.

In other words, as long as a main is used for distributing ordinary wet manufactured gas very little trouble with dust resulting from corrosion is experienced. However, when the service is changed over to a manufactured gas of low moisture content, or over to natural gas or natural gas mixtures which are characterized by very low moisture content, the moisture on and in the corrosion products dries out and such products become a serious source of dust.

The presence of considerable quantities of dust in the gas flowing through the mains of a distribution system is very undesirable because dust 'tends to clog up customer service connections, in-

, thoroughly spreading a dust laying liquid becomes a major factor.

While the water miscible high boiling alcohols and water miscible organic oils are generally suitable for the purpose of laying dust as described and claimed in copending applications Serial Number 167,316, filed October 4, 1937 and Serial Number 208,729, filed May 18, 1938, both by Duncan B. Williams, which have matured into Pattents 2,167,140 and 2,167,141, respectively, only three of the substances specifically set forth in said applications are capable of swelling cellulosic fibre packing to the same extent as water. With dry jute the volume increase caused by the swelling is 44%.

I have discovered two additional substances, namely, monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol and monomethyl ether of diethylene glycol which are capable of swelling cellulosic iibre packing sufii ciently to prevent joint leakage as described and claimed in my copending application Serial Number 128,555 filed March 1, 1937, now Patent 2,141,949 issued December 27, 1938.

The percentage swelling of dry jute by a number of liquids is set forth in Tables 1 to 3:

Monomethyl ether of diethylene glycoL Glyeerine TABLE 2 Substance Swelling Per cent Monobutyl ether of ethylene glycol 0 Monobutyl ether of diethylene glycol 0 Monophenyl ether of ethylene glycol U Triethylene glycol l Monoethyl ether of triethylene glycol... 2 Monomethyl amyl ether of ethylene glycol 4 Monoethyl ether of diethylene glycol l6 Monoethyl ether of ethylene glycol 10 TABLE 3 Substance Swelling Per can! Mixed tar bases G Hexone 3 ulnoline 4 Octyl aldehyde 8 Decane 8 'lriethyl benzene 9 Octyl alcohol 1 1 Olive oil l3 Spindle 011.. 14 Benzaldehyd o Oleic acid 3 Benzyl alcohol G Dimethyl cyclic hexanol 0 Amy] acetate 4 Diethyl phthalate 0 Decahydro naphthalene 13 A number of liquids suitable for dust laying set forth in Table 4.

TABLE 4 lion-cyclic high boiling aliphatic alcohols:

It should be noted that Table 4 includes not only the liquids of Table 1 which alone are suitable for swelling joint packing, but also liquids of Table 2 as well as others which in themselves are not suitable for swelling joint packing.

All of the substances listed in Table l are of relatively low vapor pressure compared to water and are relatively inert in the presence of the gas. Each of them except glyoerine is rapidly absorbed by uncoated packing. Highly concentrated g1ycerine has a viscosity which is somewhat too high for rapid absorption by the packing. This quality, however, may be greatly improved as will hereinafter appear.

Likewise, all of the substances of Table 4 are of low vapor pressure compared to Water and are relatively inert in the presence of the gas.

In many distribution systems tar, resin, gum, and dust have been deposited upon the packing and operate to exclude the substances listed in Table 1 from contact with the packing. In the case of packing which was originally tarred these substances, of course, are also excluded from contact wtih the packing. The substances of Table l are rather deficient as softening or solubilizing agents for tar, resin and gum.

The tar, resin, and gum likewise prevent the materials of Table 4 from reaching and wetting active sources and potential sources of dust, these materials being likewise for the most part deficient as softening or soiubilizing agents.

A feature of this invention is to provide an improved leak proofing composition for swelling cellulosic packing in joints of gas distribution systems which possesses suflicient solvent power with respect to tar, resin and gum to cause the swelling constituents of the composition to be absorbed by the packing with suiilcient rapidity for practicable purposes.

Another feature of the invention is to provide an improved dust laying composition which possesses sufficient solvent power with respect to tar, resin and gum to cause the dust laying constituents of the composition to wet dust sources and to wet and be absorbed by accumulations of v dust with sufiicient rapidity for practicable purposes.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a joint sealing and/or dust laying composition having improved wetting qualities not only for tar, resin and gum, but also for cellulosic fibre and the metal of the main walls.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a new article of manufacture and a process for making the same.

Other features of the invention will become more apparent to persons skilled in the art as the specification proceeds.

Generally speaking, the improvement in leakproofing compositions comprises two or more mutually miscible liquids, one of which is especially adapted to be absorbed by the packing and to swell the packing to at least substantially the same extent as water; and the other of which is especially adapted (a) to soften or dissolve tar, resin and/or gum, which may cover the packing, and (b) to assist the spreading and climbing of the swelling agent in the joint packing. In the event that these two or more liquids are not in themselves mutually miscible in the quantities employed, a miscibility agent may be added. Such agent may comprise a liquid solvent in which the two or more liquids employed are soluble.

Examples of the first mentioned liquid of the leakproofing composition comprise any one or more of the substances listed in Table 1, such substances being mutually miscible with each other.

Preferably with certain exceptions to be hereinafter noted, the second mentioned substance of the leakproofing composition comprises one or more 'heterocyclic compound containing at least one nitrogen atom in a ring. Although liquid compounds are preferred, it is conceivable that solid compounds may be employed by dissolving the same in the treating liquid without departing from the broad concept of the invention.

Examples of miscibility agents suitable for incorporation in leafproofing compositions to insure a single liquid phase are:

Acetone Diacetone alcohol Mesityl oxide Phenyl Carbitol (monophenyl ether of diethylene glycol) .Reference is made to my copending application Serial No. 285,942, filed July 22, 1939, which describes and claims the employment of a liquid mixture containing a non-cyclic high boiling aliphatic alcohol and monophenyl ether of ethylene glycol in treating the interior of a gas distribution system. Reference is also made to my copending application Serial No. 278,499, filed June 10, 1939, which describes and claims the employment for the same purposes of a liquid mixture containing a non-cyclic high boiling aliphatic alcohol and a ketone.

Referring now to dust laying compositions, generally stated, the improvement comprises two or more mutually miscible liquids one of which is adapted to wet, hold and/or bind dust particles and to coat dust sources; and the other of which is adapted (a) to soften or dissolve tar, resin and/or gum which may cover dust sources or form incrustations with dust deposits and b) to assist the spreading and climbing of the dust laying liquid upon the walls of the gas main and throughout the sources of dust. In the event that these two or more liquids are not in them selves mutually miscible in the quantities employed, a miscibility agent may be added. Such agent may comprise a liquid solvent in which the two or more liquids employed are soluble.

Examples of the first mentioned liquid of the dust laying composition comprise any one or more of the substances listed in Table 4.

The second mentioned substance of the dust laying composition comprises one or more heterocyclic compounds containing at least one nitrogen atom in a ring. Although liquid compounds are preferred. it is conceivable that solid compounds may be employed by dissolving the same in the treating liquid without departing from the broad concept of the invention.

Examples of miscibility agents suitable for incorporation in dust laying composition: to insure a single liquid phase are:

Methyl-Carbitol Butyl Carbitol Phenyl Cellosolve Acetone Diacetone alcohol Mesityl oxide Phenyl Carbitol Heterocyclic compounds containing ring nitrogen may be classified as follows:

(1) Five-membered heterocyclic sys'te1ns.Examples are pyrrole; pyrrolidine; pyrroline; indole: oxindole; indoxyl; dioxindole; isatin; carbazole; pyrazole; pyrazoline; pyrazolone; thiezole; imidazole; oxazole; methyl-i-phenyloxazole; 4,5-di- 'phenyloxazole; thiodiazole; sym-triazole; v-triphenanthralines; phenazine, phenoxazine; phenthiazine; piperazine; and quinoxaline.

Methyl quinolines such as quinaldine are particularly effective.

The same is true of quinoline and isoquinoline and coal tar fractions containing the same as described and claimed in my copending application Serial Number 236,822, filed October 24, 1938.

While heterocyclic compounds containing ring nitrogen and particularly when liquid, are especially suitable for tar, resin and gum cutting purposes, in the case of mains having joints packed with cellulosic fibre material such as jute and hemp, I prefer to employ those compounds: which have no deleterious action upon the jute or hemp irrespective of whether the treatment is: for joint sealing purposes or solely for dust laying purposes.

I find that materials such as pyridine appear to attack Jute, whereas alkylated nitrogen containing rings'or a nitrogen containing ring condensed with a benzene ring as occur, for instance in the alkylated pyridines or in quinoline, isoquinoline, and their alkyl derivatives, such as the methyl quinolines, evidence no such action whatsoever. Apparently alkyl groups and condensed benzene rings prevent disintegration of the jute.

Therefore, in the case of mains having joints packed with cellulosic fibre packing, I prefer to employ as tar, resin and gum penetrating agents compounds having either alkylated nitrogen containing rings or nitrogen containing rings condensed with benzene rings. In the case of alkyl-- ated nitrogen containing rings, methylated and ethylated rings are preferred since compounds with shorter alkyl groups appear to have greater penetrating power, although other compounds comprising alkylated nitrogen containing rings may be employed without departing from the broad concept of the invention.

Likewise, in the case of joints packed with other materials such as rubber, I prefer to employ as tar,

resin and gum penetrating agents those compounds which do not attack such materials.

Any desired quantity of my tar, resin and/or gum softening and/or solubilizing and wetting agent (referred to hereinafter and in the claims for convenience as tar penetrating agent) may be added to the fibre swelling and/or dust laying liquid. I find, for example, that for ordinary purposes from to 20% is suflicient, but in extreme cases such as when the packing is of the tarred type, or large quantities of tar, resin and/ or gum have deposited from the gas that much larger quantities are preferably employed, for example up to say '70 or more.

Furthermore, the more drastic treatment or treatments may be followedby a less drastic treatment or treatments, such as the treatment for ordinary purposes.

Moreover, the main may be treated first with the tar penetrating agent and then with the dust laying and/or joint sealing agent without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The presence of my tar penetrating agent greatly increases the distribution of the treatin liquid and its penetration through tar, resin, gum and dust incrustations and, therefore, not only greatly decreases the time of treatment, but also greatly increases the thoroughness and effectiveness of the treatment when tar, resin, gum and/ or dust incrustations are present.

I find that my tar penetrating agents do not interfere with the functions of the other ingredients of the composition, and greatly enhance the spreading and climbing of the same.

If desired, a suitable corrosion inhibitor, such as triethanolamine might be added of which amounts from 0.5 to 1.5% are examples.

Examples of liquid mixtures for both leakproofing and dust laying are as follows:

Example 1 Per cent Diethylene glycol Glycer 15 Quinaldine 20 Example 2 Diethylene glycol 65 Glycerine 13.5 Quinoline 20 Triethanolamine 1.5

Example 3 Glycerine 60 Quinaldine 40 The latter composition is rapidly absorbed by the cellulosic packing, whereas, when glycerin'e alone is used the rate of absorption is rather slow.

It is to be noted that in the case of high viscosity liquids such as glycerine, my tar penetrating agents also serve to reduce the viscosity thus reducing the time required for the composition to flow through the main when applied in this manner.

The foregoing are examples of liquid mixtures suitable for general leakage treatment. When deposits or coatings of tar, resin and/or gum are excessive the following are more suitable in view of the increased concentration of the tar penetrating agent in the mixture.

} Example 4 Per cent Glycerine 30 Quinaldine Example 5 Diethylene glycol 30 Quinaldine 68 Triethanolamine 2 Example 6 Glycerine e 30 Quinoline 63 Triethanolamine 2 Example 7 Diethylene glycol 30 Quinaldine 34 Isoquinoline 34 Triethanolamine 2 Example 8 Diethylene glycol 30 Quinaldine 22 Quinoline 22 Isoquinoline 24 Triethanolamine 2 Generally speaking, any other liquid or combination of liquids of Table 1 may be substituted for diethylene glycol or glycerine in the above examples and any other tar penetrating agent or agents which do not attack hemp or jute may be substituted, preferably using a miscibility agent when necessary to form a single liquid phase, which is preferred to a plurality of liquid phases, although it is conceivable that the latter may be employed without departing from the broad concept of the invention.

Examples of liquid mixtures suited more particularly for dust laying only are as follows:

.Example 9 Per cent Quinaldine 20 Monophenyl ether of ethylene glycol 50 Diethylene glycol 30 Example 10 Quinaldine 15 Dibutyl phthalate 75 Generally speaking, any other liquid or combination of liquids of Table 4 may be substituted for the dust laying liquid or liquids in the above examples. Likewise, any other tar penetrating agent or agents may be substituted, preferably using a miscibility agent or other means such as forming an emulsion when necessary to form a single liquid phase, which is preferred to a plurality of liquid phases, although it is conceivable that the latter may be employed without departing from the broad concept of the invention.

The treating liquid may be applied to the interior surface of a pipe section and/or to the packing in a joint before, during or after the assembly of the pipe sections to form the main. This may be accomplished in any desired manner such as by dipping, spraying, brushing, or otherwise.

If the main is already in service, sections of. the main may be blocked off by means of inflated bags or other means, and the sections then completely filled with the liquid after which the liquid can be drawn off and re-used.

On the other hand, the liquid may be sprayed into the gas by the fogging procedure earlier mentioned so that the packing and/or dust sources absorb the liquid from the gas stream or, in other words, so that the liquid is deposited from the gas stream onto the packing and/or onto the sources of dust.

In another method of application the liquid is introduced into the main at high points and allowed to run by gravity to low-points where the excess can be drawn off. An examination of mains treated in this manner shows that my compositions have greatly improved climbing properties.

Another method comprises inserting a long length of hose into the main with a spray at its end, or with a plurality of sprays distributed along its length, and pumping the treating liquid into the hose while withdrawing the hose either continuously or intermittently or otherwise, or while the hose remains stationary.

In the last three methods of application service on the line need not be interrupted. The packing becomes impregnated with the composition and dust sources become coated with the treating liquid. The wetting of finely divided material causes it to be bound together in a mass which prevents it from rising in a dust regard less of the velocity of the gas traveling through the main. The clogging of mains, meters, regulators and appliance is thus eiiectively prevented.

A typical gas main is illustrated in the drawing in which:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a gas main; and

Figure 2 is a cross-section on line 22 of Figure 1.

In the drawing the gas main i 0 is shown with a joint comprising bell l l and spigot I2 fitting with in said bell and spaced therefrom. In the space between the bell and the spigot is cellulosic fibre packing l3 which may be tarred or untarred and a seal [4 of lead or other suitable material for holding the packing in place. The treating liquid I5, as illustrated is being run through the main by gravity. It contacts the bottom of the main and any deposits accumulated thereon. It also contacts the packing at space I6 which space is left between the spigot and the shoulder of the bell to provide for expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. The packing absorbs the liquid at l6 and the liquid climbs and is carried up in the packing as shown by the outer group of arrows in Figure 2. If a substance of Table 1 is present the packing is swollen to substantially the same extent as with water. The treating liquid also climbs up the metal walls of the main as illustrated by the inner group of arrows in Figure 2 to coat dust sources in addition to those along the bottom of the main.

The bulk of the treating liquid, of course, remains in the main only during the time that its flow from the point of introduction to the point of removal which usually is the nearest drip.

Any other means for applying the treating liquid to the packing and/or to the interior of the conduit may be employed. For instance, in the case of very large diameter mains the level of the liquid I5 may be raised or may be made to fill the .entire main if desired, or the spray or fogging methods may be employed.

In the case of a welded main, or other main having joints in which cellulosic fibre packing is not present, the treatment becomes primarily one of dust laying. Likewise, when the liquids of Table 4 other than those of Table l are employed, the treatment becomes more essentially one of dust laying regardless of the type of main treated.

While the invention has been described in connection with gas mains it is to be understood that it is applicable to any part of a gas distribution system wherein similar problems may arise. It

is also to be understood that the various agents referred to herein may be used either in the pure or commercially pure form, or in any other suitable form including the commercial and crude forms.

It is to be understood that the above particular description is by way of illustration and that changes, omissions, additions, substitutions, and/or modifications, might be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The terms comprisesfland comprising" are used in the claims in their usually accepted meanings which do not exclude other steps or the presence of substances other than those specifically recited.

I claim:

1. A method for treating the interior of a gas distribution system which comprises applying to the interior of said system a liquid mixture comprising a non-cyclic high boiling aliphatic alcohol and one of a group consisting of a heterocyclic compound containing at least one nitrogen atom in a ring which is alkylated and a heterocyclic compound containing at least one nitrogen atom in a ring which is condensed with a benzene ring.

2. A method for reducing gas leakage through cellulosic fibrous packing in a joint of a gas distribution system, comprising impregnating said packing with a cellulosic fibre swelling agent selected from a group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of diethylene glycol, and glycerine by bringing said agent into contact with said packing in the presence of a methyl quinoline.

3. A method for laying dust in the interior of a gas distribution conduit having dust deposits along thebottom thereof, comprising enveloping said dust deposits with a dust laying liquid selected from a group consisting of ethylene glycol,

diethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of diethylene glycol, and glycerine by bringing said liquid into contact with said dust sources in the presence of a methyl quinoline.

4. A method for laying dust in a gas distribution system, which comprises coating the walls of said system with a liquid mixture comprising quinaldine and at least one of a group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of diethylene glycol, and glycerine.

5. In a method for reducing gas leakage through fibrous packing such as jute and hemp in a joint of a gas conduit, the step of impregnating said fibrous packing while in place in said joint with a liquid mixture comprising quinaldine and at least one of a group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of diethylene glycol, and glycerine.

6. A joint in a gas distribution system compris ing spaced cooperating elements, cellulosic fibrous packing such as jute and hemp between said cooperating elements positioned to form a seal, and a liquid mixture absorbed by said packing, said liquid mixture comprising a methyl quinoline and at least one of a group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of diethylene glygol, and glycerine.

7. A Joint in a gas enclosure comprising a bell, a spigot positioned within and spaced from said bell to form an annular space, an annular ring of cellulosic fibrous packing in said annular space and continuously contacting said bell and spigot on its outer and inner peripheries respectively, and a liquid mixture absorbed by said packing, said liquid mixture comprising quinaldine and at least one of a group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of diethylene glycol, and glycerine.

8. A method for treating the interior of a gas distribution system which comprises applying to the interior of said system a liquid mixture comprising a non-cyclic high boiling aliphatic alcohol, and a heterocyclic compound containing at least one nitrogen atom in the ring.

9. A. gas conduit having interior dust sources wetted down with a liquid mixture comprising a non-cyclic high boiling aliphatic alcohol, and a heterocyclic compound containing at least one nitrogen atom in the ring.

10. A joint in a gas distribution system comprising spaced cooperating elements, cellulosic fibrous packing such as jute and hemp between said cooperating elements positioned to form a seal, and a liquid mixture absorbed by said packing, said liquid mixture comprising an alkyl quinoline, and at least one of a group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol, monomethyl ether oi diethylene glycol, and glycerine.

JOHN R. SKEEN. 

